13 



and is a honey eater, but it nevertheless does not belong to the genus Tricho- 

 GLOSSUS, which is a group of honey-eating parrots. The breeding habits of 

 this species are also misrepresented, for I can endorse the following remark by 

 Mr. Potts, in his excellent paper on the niditication of ISTew Zealand birds 

 {Trans. N. Z. Inst, Vol. ii., p. oQ), — "We must have peered into scores of 

 nests, in vai'ious paints of the countiy, but we have never yet been fortunate 

 enough to encounter such a prize as one containing ' seven eggs, spotted Avith 

 blue, upon a bi'own ground,' ascribed to this bird bj^ the Rev. R. Taylor." The 

 eggs of this species are generally four in number, white with a pinkish tinge 

 and with reddish-brown spots, more numerous at the larger end. 



12. The 'M.Sit&ia, {S2)henceacus punctatus) has a graduated, acuminate tail, 

 and not "a tail composed of four long and four short feathers." 



13. Under the head of "Trogiodytinse," there is a confusion of scientific 

 names, and eiTors so obviously typographical that it would be unfair to hold 

 the author responsible for them, except as regards the supervision of the 

 printer's sheets. 



14. By Miro albifrons, the aiithor evidently means Petroica alhifrons. 

 " Miro " is a native name. It was adopted by M. Lesson, in 1831, to distin- 

 giiish the genus, bu.t the name did not stand, being superseded in the following 

 year by Mr. Swainson's genus Petroica. 



15. There is no such bird as Muscipeta Toitoi. The author probably refers 

 to Petroica toitoi. 



16. The Tieke (Creadion carunculatus) has a vermilion wattle, or caruncle, 

 pendent from the angle or corner of the moxith, on each side, and not "on 

 either side of the head," as described. 



17. Aplonis Zelandicus. The author entirely mistakes the bird. The 

 Ground Lark (Anthus Novce Zelandice) belongs to a totally different family. 



18. The author's conjecture that the " light variety " of Kaka (B'esto?-) may 

 be Platycercus auriceps, is far wide of the mark, as ISTestor is a veiy different 

 genus to Platycercus, which comprises the various species of parrakeet found 

 in IS'ew Zealand. The suggestion that the " Kaka-korako," or albino, belongs 

 to the genus Trichoglossus is even moi'e unfortunate. 



19. The Kea {Nestor notahilis) is described as a bird of "red plumage," — 

 a very inaccurate and insufficient description of this remarkably fine species. 



20. The author is mistaken in giving the Parrakeet {Platycercus pacificus^ 

 a "band of red or yellow on the throat." 



21. I have examined very many specimens of Ardea matook, but I have 

 never seen one corresponding with the author's description, which gives this 

 bird a "perfectly bald skull of a red colour." 



22. The White Crane {Ardea Jlavirostris) has black legs, not "dark green," 

 as described. 



23. Himantopus Novoi Zelandiai has a black bill, not a "red" one. 



